Expert: Vic Winnek - 1/22/2008

Question
If team A kicks a field goal on first down and its blocked by team b, and the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage and team A recovers. Does the clock continue to run if team A recovers the ball.

Answer
Thomas

Thank you for your question.  The quick answer: No the clock does not continue to run.

A scrimmage kick that fails to cross the neutral zone
continues in play. All players may catch or recover the ball behind the neutral zone and advance it. In your question the continuity of a series of scrimmage downs is not broken because the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage, there is not change of possession and team A still has 3 more downs to achieve a first down.  Thus the ball belongs to A where it was declared dead in team A's possession [presumably at the spot of recovery].  Team B is not awarded a first down because the ball did not cross the NZ and there was no change of possession.

As for the status of the clock, The clock stops at the end of a legal kick down and starts on the snap.  A down is a unit of the game that starts with a legal snap or legal free kick after the ball is ready for play and ends when the ball next becomes dead.  Thus in your question, the first down play for a field goal is a legal scrimmage kick down that starts with the snap and ends when A recovers the ball is declared dead based on your question.  By rule the clock stops when declared dead. and will start on the next snap.  The clock will not continue to run upon recovery and being declared dead in A's possession.

Rule 3-2-4 #15 provides: the clock will stop When a legal kick down ends.  Rule 3-2-5-d provides The clock stops at the end of a legal kick down and starts on the snap.

Rule 3 Section 2 ARTICLE 5. governs when the clock starts:
When the ball is free-kicked, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally touched in the field of play or crosses the goal line after being touched legally by Team B in its end zone and subsequently stopped when the ball is dead by rule. On a scrimmage down, the game clock shall be started when the ball is snapped legally or on prior signal by the referee. The game clock shall not run during a try, during an extension of a period or during an extra period (A.R. 3-2-5-I-IV).

a. When the clock has been stopped, the referee shall declare the ball ready for play (Rule 11-2-1-c) and the clock shall start on the snap unless it was stopped because of one of the following situations (A.R. 7-3-2-I and A.R. 7-3-7-II):
1. When Team A is awarded a first down (Exception: After a legal kick).
2. For a referee’s timeout for an injured player or official, or when the runner’s helmet comes completely off, or for an extended timeout for radio or television.
3. At the referee’s discretion (Rules 3-2-2-c and 3-4-3) (A.R. 3-3-2-IIIV).
4. To complete a penalty (Exception: After a delay foul by Team A while in scrimmage-kick formation).
5. For an inadvertent whistle (Exception: During a legal kick).
6. For a head coach’s conference or challenge.
7. For a sideline warning.
8. For an illegal pass to conserve time (A.R. 7-3-2-II-VIII).
9. For a measurement.
10. For a live ball in an official’s possession.
11. For a fumble out of bounds in advance of the spot of the fumble (3-2-5-a).

b. If the clock was stopped for incidents 1 through 11, it shall be started on the ready-for-play signal.

c. If incidents 1 through 11 occur in conjunction with any other situation that starts the clock on the snap, the clock will start on the snap.

d. The clock stops at the end of a legal kick down and starts on the snap.(Exception: When the next play is a free kick or a try.)

e. When Team B is awarded a first down, the clock will be stopped and will start on the snap.

I hope this answers your question.  Best of luck and please feel free to follow up if necessary.
Best regards,

Victor Winnek
NCAA Football Official